I recently came across this story which somehow stuck with me for quite a while.
Tong, aged 13, lives with the Missionaries of Charity in my neighbourhood, just next to our Parish and the Mother of the Perpetual Help Centre in Nong Bua Lamphu Thailand. I have known him for quite some years, he joined Bible-sharing seminars and youth outings and is that kind of a teenager that doesn’t cause any trouble – others do sometimes.
His Mother is still alive, yet some years ago she was so sick that she couldn’t bring up her son, especially after Tong's father passed away. Both mother and son have been in good contact over the last years. It was heartbreaking when we heard that Ton was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had to undergo several bouts of chemotherapy and surgery in the next Province, about 150 kilometres from home.
I always admired him for his strength and patience. I never heard him complaining, but always smiling and always around his mates. Being admitted in the hospital, he sometimes had to be on his own since his mother had to work for her living and also the sisters couldn’t visit him every day.
Tong, comforted his mother who was terrified to leave him alone, saying: ‘Mum, you don’t have to worry about me; I can be on my own.’ Some relatives of another child heard this conversation and added: ‘You really do not have to worry! He is not alone. Every night a man comes and watches over him.’ Both Tong's mother and the Missionary of Charity sisters were confused. Tong has no father and they couldn’t think of any man visiting Tong. So they listened further: ‘This man comes every night and he just sits there. … He looks like a foreigner, is all dressed in white.’ Those who listened to this quietly thought of God visiting Tong every night.
Here in Thailand we’re living in Buddhist environment. Over each patient's bed in Tong's ward is a picture of Buddha. Those who gave this statement are also Buddhists. I just thought how amazing it is that they actually can see. I keep thinking a lot about this story, especially over the last weeks when I was going through some hard times. I found the idea of ‘God who sits next to me’ really comforting.
Believe it or not, I definitely think this is an 'unbelievable' story!